Author: Lawrence Person

Lawrence Person is a science fiction writer living in Austin, Texas. His short fiction has appeared in Asimov's, Analog, Postscripts, Jim Baen's Universe, Fear, and several anthologies. He also edits the Hugo-nominated SF critical magazine Nova Express, and runs the Turkey City Writer's Workshop. His non-fiction has appeared in National Review, Reason, Whole Earth Review, The Freeman, The World & I, Science Fiction Eye, The New York Review of Science Fiction, and Slashdot.org. He owns such a large library (mostly science fiction first editions) he had to buy a two-story house to put it in, and then adopted a golden retriever to drag him out of his house on a regular basis. He also makes a mean batch of salsa.

Library Addition: Signed PBO of William Tenn’s The Square Root of Man

That same eBay seller keeps having some interesting signed PBOs going cheap, including this one: Tenn, William. The Square Root of Man. Ballantine Books, 1968. First edition paperback original (“First Printing: June, 1968”), a Very Good copy with spine creasing and lean, crease along front spine join, edgewear, and a bookstore stamp to teaser page,… Continue reading Library Addition: Signed PBO of William Tenn’s The Square Root of Man

Library Additions: Four (Mostly) Robert E. Howard Chapbooks

Someone on Facebook was selling off the collection of an Arkham House/Weird Tales collector, and he had some Robert E. Howard chapbooks I pulled the trigger on. Howard, Robert E. The Complete Yellow Jacket. Paul Herman, 1999. First edition chapbook original, #80 of 100 copies, a Fine copy. Collection of Howard’s work that appeared in… Continue reading Library Additions: Four (Mostly) Robert E. Howard Chapbooks

Library Additions: Two Signed Firsts (Hill, Eggers)

Two more Half Price Books finds, both signed. Eggers, Dave. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. Simon & Schuster, 2000. First edition hardback (full “1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2” numberline), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed (with initials) and dated (“3/6/00”) by Eggers. His debut novel. You… Continue reading Library Additions: Two Signed Firsts (Hill, Eggers)

Library Addition: Michael Swanwick’s A Fantasist’s Guide to Venice

Another Dragonstairs chapbook: Swanwick, Michael. A Fantasist’s Guide to Venice. Dragonstairs Press, 2025. First edition chapbook original, #30 of 79 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Collection of short essays on various fantastic elements of Venice, in fact and fiction, following the author’s visit there. Note that this is one of at least four different… Continue reading Library Addition: Michael Swanwick’s A Fantasist’s Guide to Venice

Game Library Addition: Monty Python’s Cocurricular Mediaeval Reenactment Programme

I did a fair amount of wargaming in my youth, but have done piratically none since graduating college. Still, every now and then a boardgaming Kickstarter strikes my fancy, as this one, vaguely based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail and first announced back in 2022, did. I think this is the first game… Continue reading Game Library Addition: Monty Python’s Cocurricular Mediaeval Reenactment Programme

Library Addition: WingNuts in Time and Space

Quite a bit different than a lot of the items I catalog here: Harvia, Teddy (David Thayer). WingNuts in Time and Space. Self-published, 2025. First edition comic book fanzine original, #90 of 200 copies, a Fine copy, with letter from the author/illustrator laid in. An eight page comic from the award-winning fan artist featuring his… Continue reading Library Addition: WingNuts in Time and Space

Library Addition: Jules Verne’s Little Blue Book of Icy Peril

Though I have several H. G. Wells first editions, I have comparatively little by Verne. Not only do first English language editions of Verne not pop up at used bookstores in central Texas, I haven’t even chanced across any firsts of the Naval Institute Press translations (which evidently include material omitted from all previous translations).… Continue reading Library Addition: Jules Verne’s Little Blue Book of Icy Peril

Library Additions: Signed PS Blaylock and Campbell Firsts

Two PS Publishing signed, limited hardback editions that came in from the publisher. Blaylock, James P. The Invisible Woman. PS Publishing, 2024. First edition hardback, #76 of 200 signed, numbered hardbacks, a Fine copy in decorated boards and a Fine dust jacket. Set in the same universe as Pennies From Heaven. Campbell, Ramsey. The Inhabitant… Continue reading Library Additions: Signed PS Blaylock and Campbell Firsts

Library Additions: Four Donald M. Grant Deluxe Conans

Here are the final books from that big Robert E. Howard purchase. Howard, Robert E. Red Nails. Donald M. Grant, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket was one pinprick black dot on front of dust jack. Fourth in the Deluxe Conan series. Currey, page 251. Chalker/Owings, page 217-18. Howard,… Continue reading Library Additions: Four Donald M. Grant Deluxe Conans